Drunk Fortuner driver runs amok, kills scooterist in city

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30

A drunk engineering graduate ran his Toyota Fortuner amok, resulting in the death of an Activa scooter rider and damage to two cars on the road dividing Sectors 16 and 17 this morning. After hitting the scooterist, the Fortuner hit an electricity pole on the road divider and then damaged two cars on the other side of the road. The incident led to a traffic jam.

The police have identified the deceased as Gyan Massih, a labour contractor. The Fortuner driver, Satyajot Singh, a resident of Sector 71, Mohali, was arrested and later released on bail. A labourer of the contractor, Madan, was injured in the incident.

Massih, a resident of Sector 41, was rushed to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, where he was declared brought dead.

The incident occurred when the SUV jumped the red light, hitting an Activa and subsequently damaging a Maruti Swift and a Hyundai Verna near the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation building. The police said the Fortuner was coming from Matka Chowk. Massih was riding the Activa with Madan as the pillion rider. The accident occurred when Massih turned right towards Sector 17 after the light turned green.

The speeding Fortuner driver, who was drunk, hit the Activa. The Fortuner then rammed into an electric pole on the divider. The accused lost control over the vehicle and tried to speed away from the spot. However, in the melee, he rode over the divider and hit two vehicles on the other side of the road. The vehicle then came to a halt. The air bags of the Fortuner also opened. Satyajot tried to start the vehicle again, but failed. He later fled from the spot, leaving the vehicle behind. 

He was later arrested. The police said his father, Harbhajan, was a real estate developer. Police sources said, “At the time of the accident, the accused driver was drunk; his medical examination has confirmed it.” A case under Sections 337 (causing hurt by an act endangering the life or personal safety of others), 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the IPC has been registered.